Modi holds talks with Kenyan President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Parade Square in Kenya’s capital city Nairobi on Monday.

Modi says his focus is on human development through trade, rather than the extraction of resources.

He said the world was facing two critical issues – global warming and terrorism. He earlier paid tributes to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of Kenya and a towering political figure of Africa.

Modi also said that India is ready to share its expertise and experience with Kenya for its development goals.

Kenya hosts at least 40 Indian companies, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industries, together with India’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, have signed several deals which the Kenyan government hopes will be renewed.

Modi got a pleasant surprise when Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta joined him at the venue unannounced.

On Monday, Modi will hold bilateral talks with Kenyatta and also visit the University of Nairobi and interact with students there.

He will also attend an India-Kenya business summit. The Prime Minister then added that during the two years of his rule, India has seen “good governance” and implementation of announcements, unlike the past when “decisions were taken without anybody bothering as to what happened to them”.

Soon after his arrival here, he addressed an Indian diaspora rally that was attended by over 20,000 people.

“The prime minister’s visit offers us a chance to renew and deepen our friendship and partnership in a number of fields”, Kenyatta’s spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said at a press briefing on Sunday.

At the beginning of his speech, the Prime Minister commended the Indian community in Kenya for preserving their culture and tradition despite being away from their land of origin for generations. He has already visited Mozambique, South Africa and Tanzania.